Page 3 of Make Me
“Because I let you live in my shed and blew up my own house to protect your family,” I remind her sweetly as we enter the house. “Among otherthings.”
She grumbles under her breath. “Yeah, yeah. How long are you planning to hold that over my head?”
I wink. “Until one of us dies. Even then, I’ll make one hell of a ghost, don’t you think?” Then, I notice she has the same black envelope on her counter that I found on my way out of the house. “Hey, I got one of those, too.”
I pull it from the back pocket of my jeans, and this time don’t hesitate to open the sealed flap. Inside is a translucent piece of parchment with glittering black text and a serpent logo at the top that makes me roll my eyes.
A night of mischief, magic, and mayhemawaits you.
You are cordially invited to the first All Hallows’ Eve Ball at Crossroads.
Arrive by the stroke of ten, dressed in your finest enchantments, or forfeit your place.
Masks are optional. Secrets are not.
See you soon, Kamishola Havensflint.
V
Gods, I can’t stand that woman.
“What’s wrong?” Spencer asks from the stove as I crumple the invitation within my sweaty palm.
“Vaelora.” A fae I’d never even met while I lived in Avalon, but because she’s apparently heard of me, she thinks we should be friends.
I, however, want nothing to do with her.
“You’re still sour over her arrival in Crossroads?” Spencer sighs while she stomps toward me, then leads us into her living room and forces me onto the couch. “You know you’re our favorite fae.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t like the way she looks at me.” I cross my arms as I lean back against the cushions, hating that my life feels like it’s falling apart around me and there’s nothing I can do about it.
Spencer nudges me with her elbow. “Do you think she has a girl-crush?”
The waggle of her brow grates on my nerves, and suddenly I’m the moody one.
“No. I think shethinksshe knows more than sheshould about me.” I scowl at the far wall. “It’s annoying.”
My best friend grabs my shoulders and forces me to face her. “Kasha, is there something you should tell me before someone else does?”
I remove her hands before her nails can pierce my skin, taking in her light blue eyes and sleek white hair. Gods, if I didn’t know better, she could pass as one of my kind, but instead, her exotic features come from something possibly even more powerful.
“Kasha,” she pleads. “It’s me. You can tell me anything.”
I know that, but what Spencer doesn’t get and what I’m not ready to admit out loud is that it’s not about trusting her or anyone else for that matter. It’s about saying the words and making them more real. I’ve spent a long time running from my past, and I’d like to keep it where it belongs: buried.
“I’m sorry, Spence. I’ve been going through a lot lately.” I give her leg a squeeze. “Maybe it’s just where my head’s been lately, but this invitation might have struck a nerve.”
Her head tilts slightly. “What kind of nerve?”
“I’ve been thinking about going back to the fae world even though?—”
She chokes on air, her face going pale. “You’ve what now?”
“I’m notactuallygoing to,” I tell her with a grin. I never thought I’d see the day that this woman gave a damn about anyone other than herself and her secrets, but love sure does look good on my best friend.
“I’ll stop interrupting now.” Spencer settles andwaves a hand for me to proceed.
“Only if you’re sure,” I tease, and she gives me a glare that’s savage enough to cut anyone weaker to their core. “Right. So, as I was saying, Ibrieflythought about going back to Avalon. Then, I remembered why I left and decided that was a terrible idea.”
